After watching Yukinoshita Yukino board the train, Hozuki Nozomi turned and walked away. He didn't look back, but Yukino found herself staring in his direction, her thoughts tangled in a mix of curiosity and something she couldn't quite define.
Of course, she knew of Hozuki Nozomi.
On the first day of school, he had been involved in that incident. She had been in the private car, watching from the sidelines as her mother and older sister stepped in to handle the situation. She had seen him punch Hikigaya Hachiman—clean, direct, and powerful enough to leave an impression. It wasn't just the strength behind the punch that shocked her but the way he had dodged the car door so effortlessly, as if it were second nature.
And now, today, they had officially met.
This was the boy who somehow attracted animals without even trying, the one who spoke to her so casually, as if she were just another person rather than the untouchable Yukinoshita Yukino. Most boys either stammered in her presence or avoided direct eye contact altogether, but Nozomi didn't hesitate. He was at ease, natural, completely unfazed by her demeanor.
That kind of confidence was rare.
And—she had to admit—it was attractive.
Certainly, much more reliable than Hayama Hayato, whose surface-level charm was beginning to feel increasingly shallow.
But… was he pursuing Shiina Mahiru?
She thought about it—the absurd number of coincidences between them.
They lived in the same dormitory. They commuted to school together. They were classmates. They even sat next to each other as deskmates. And on top of that, they were the respective male and female class representatives.
If these two weren't dating, then the world had truly lost all sense of fairness.
But then again…
From what Shiina Mahiru had said, it didn't seem like she viewed Nozomi in that way. There was no trace of romance in her words.
Wait—why was she even wondering if they were together?
Realizing where her thoughts had wandered, Yukino quickly shook her head, trying to banish the image of Nozomi from her mind. But the warmth lingering on her cheeks refused to fade.
She was overthinking. That was all.
What mattered now was the cats.
She reached into her pocket, finding it empty. The last of her cat treats had already been given away. She made a note to buy more.
Meanwhile, Nozomi had made his way to a nearby convenience store.
Not that he was lacking in money, but sometimes he just wanted to indulge himself—instant noodles, cola, simple pleasures that had nothing to do with necessity.
Of course, there was another reason for his little shopping trip.
Ogiwara Sayu, despite all the time she had spent at his place, was still reluctant to spend any money. Every yen she had was given to her by him, and she was painfully aware of that fact. Nozomi doted on her, but she was still lost—unsure of herself, unsure of where her future lay. For now, she wasn't ready to step out and work.
That was fine.
People found their paths at their own pace. Until then, he would provide her with a warm home and whatever comfort she needed.
While selecting his usual items, his eyes landed on something unexpected.
A frozen food package with the label: 'Ogiwara Foods.'
No surprise there—it was a major brand, widely distributed. But Nozomi knew exactly who owned that company.
Ogiwara Sayu's family.
Her older brother was the CEO.
To think their products were circulating even here in Kyoto… Ogiwara Sayu was, in a way, a true rich girl. At least on paper.
But what did that even matter?
Her family didn't care about her. Her brother never reached out. Her mother despised her very existence.
That was why she refused to return home.
Nozomi clenched the package slightly, his lips curling into a smirk filled with derision.
"What a joke," he muttered under his breath.
A company that big, a family that influential, and yet they couldn't even protect their own daughter?
Not that it mattered.
Sayu was his now.
He had intercepted her at the right moment, taken her in before the world could truly break her. And if her so-called 'family' ever came looking for her, demanding she return, he already knew his answer.
If Sayu's brother, Issa Ogiwara, ever came looking for her, there was no way in hell Nozomi was handing her over.
After picking up some snacks and fresh ingredients, Nozomi made his way to the cashier to pay.
"Welcome! That will be 88,563 yen. Will you be paying with cash or card?"
A bright, cheerful voice rang in his ears. He looked up absentmindedly—and his eyes lit up.
The girl behind the counter wore a neatly pressed convenience store uniform. Her long chestnut hair was tied up in a high ponytail, revealing delicate features that carried a certain earnest charm. She was slender but had an air of quiet determination about her. Despite the mundane nature of her job, her smile was genuine—something about it made people instinctively feel at ease.
But what truly caught Nozomi's attention was the name tag pinned to her uniform.
Aoyama.
No way…
Aoyama Nanami.
Of course. The hardworking girl from Sakurasou, the one who struggled to become a voice actress while juggling multiple part-time jobs. It was definitely her.
"Card," Nozomi replied nonchalantly, handing over his bank card before shifting his gaze away.
Now wasn't the time to make contact.
But now that he knew where she worked, he'd definitely find an opportunity to have a more… 'coincidental' encounter in the future.
With that thought, Nozomi took his purchases and left the store.
===============
Back at Sakurasou, Nozomi placed the fresh ingredients in the fridge and tossed the snacks onto the cabinet. He had barely finished unpacking when the door to his room swung open without warning.
Before he could react—
A warm, soft body pressed against his back.
"…Sayu?"
Nozomi grasped her small hands, playing with them idly before turning around and pulling her into his arms.
"What's wrong?" he murmured, a teasing smile forming on his lips. "Did you miss me after not seeing me for a whole day?"
Ogiwara Sayu pouted, her arms tightening around his waist.
"The girl who visited today… Yukinoshita-san. She's really beautiful."
"So?"
"Do you… like her?"
Her tone was light, but Nozomi could hear the unmistakable trace of jealousy.
His smirk deepened. "What if I said yes?"
"..."
Sayu fell silent, gripping the fabric of his shirt.
She knew she had no right to question him. After all, she was the one who had been picked up by him, taken in when she had nowhere else to go. Without him, who knew where she'd be right now? A girl with no money, no place to live… she had no claim over him.
But still.
The silence stretched between them until Nozomi let out a quiet sigh, his fingers slipping into her hair, gently smoothing it out.
"Sayu," he murmured. "If I got a girlfriend, would you leave?"
Her body stiffened at the question. Then, finally, she whispered:
"…I don't want to leave."
"Then that's all that matters." Nozomi leaned in, his voice dropping to a mischievous murmur. "If you keep worrying about stuff like this, I might just have to distract you so you don't have time to overthink."
His hand slid down to her thigh, teasingly tracing patterns against her skin.
Sayu let out a small laugh, burying her face against his shoulder. "You're such a tease."
Still, she didn't pull away. Instead, she looped her arms around his neck and whispered:
"I'm already attached to you. Even if you try to push me away, I won't go."
She hesitated before adding, "…Besides, you've already made a move on Misaki-senpai, and I didn't stop you, did I?"
Nozomi's hold on her tightened slightly. He had no intention of letting her go. Ever.
"…Do you know Ogiwara Foods?" he asked suddenly.
Sayu flinched.
Then, slowly, she lifted her head to meet his gaze, eyes filled with quiet hurt.
"Are you looking into my family… because you're planning to send me away?" Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Am I getting in the way of your relationship with Shiina-san?"
Nozomi flicked her forehead lightly. "Idiot. Do I seem like the kind of guy who'd just dump you?"
Sayu rubbed the spot where he had flicked her, pouting. "Then why…?"
"I looked into it because I wanted to understand you better," Nozomi said plainly. "Your past, your family, everything. So when the day comes that they come knocking on my door demanding to take you back, I'll know exactly how to handle it."
He smirked. "Otherwise, how am I supposed to explain to people that I'm not some criminal running an underground trafficking ring?"
Sayu giggled before throwing her arms around him, pressing her face into his chest.
"Then I'll just tell them…" she whispered, voice filled with warmth. "That I stayed with you voluntarily."
Voluntarily, huh?
Well, whether it was voluntary or not…
Nozomi had already decided.
She wasn't going anywhere.
*****************
Shoutout to Dima and خالد الرميح.
Attached is Nanami Aoyama from the pet girl of Sakurasou